The Maojin knife from the late Jin Dynasty

Chapter 284 Palace Examination

Of course, the dispute between Xi Canjun and Gou Chun is serious, but it is also trivial.

But because of the quarrel between these two people, those scholars who had passed the first round of "Nine Chapters" and the second round of "Hanshu" exams, although they still couldn't conceal their disappointment, they also recovered from it. A lot.

After all, the people who come to take the exam are considered to be extremely smart people in their own little land.

But when I came to Yecheng, I saw all kinds of princes from aristocratic families and scholars from poor families, and there was even a rather strange military history.

Liu Tai used the two exams "Nine Chapters" and "Han Shu" to clearly let the candidates know the gap between the two sides.

To be honest, something like "Policy Theory" looks simple, from the perspective of vision to the handwriting, but it is really not something that an ordinary poor person can write well by studying hard.

Therefore, these scholars who were screened out in the third round felt for the first time the gap between themselves and those real aristocratic families. Especially when looking at the article posted by the first place, the gap became even more obvious.

After all, if there is a gap between the top ten, it only depends on the examiner's preference, but the gap between the 360th place and the first place is absolutely huge. I really think that the Zheng family in Xingyang will produce great farmers from generation to generation. Doesn’t the family have any heritage?

If the Zheng family in Xingyang also chooses to cross south, basically the position of Da Sinong in the Jin Dynasty is reserved for the Zheng family in Xingyang.

And if these hundreds of scholars from outside the country recite Zheng Lue's articles carefully, whether it is from the perspective, the topic, or the connotation, as long as they learn a little charm, maybe they can take the exam again next time, and they will really be able to enter the 360 Ten.

However, because the examination system is a new thing, it puts everyone on the same platform to compete, and all candidates don't know when the next examination will be.

Therefore, scholars who have passed the two levels of "Nine Chapters" and "Hanshu", but not the policy level, can't help but feel a little confused and bleak about their future.

Because passing this exam proves that it is not a lack of talent at all, but that I am far behind those who are truly geniuses. How can this not make those who fail the exam feel sad!

At this time, Gou Chun's Taxation Department or Xi Jianjun's Military History Office are both good places for them.

Just like the military history in the Military History Office has two promotion systems, military merit and education, Gou Chun's tax department is even better.

Because everyone knows that for anyone who is caught for tax evasion or even has his or her home confiscated, in addition to making up for the money and food needed by the court, the extra money from the confiscation of the home is usually divided into four parts, and one part is given to Liu Tai's family. One part goes to the imperial treasury, one part is left to the tax department, and the other part is given to all the officials involved in this matter, large and small.

In other words, if you become a court official and want to make a fortune, it is most convenient to enter the tax system.

However, in order to prevent the tax department from getting bigger, Liu Tai did not raise the tax department's rank even if Gou Chun was an official with only two thousand dan.

Because the Tax Department is the knife in his hand that is specifically aimed at the aristocratic family, or in other words, it is specifically designed to help him do dirty work.

Therefore, the official position of the Taxation Department is low and powerful, so that it can be easily manipulated.

If the tax department's authority is expanded and its status continues to rise, it will be very troublesome.

But no matter what, for these candidates who were rejected after the first and second rounds of exams, it would be good to join the Taxation Department or the Military History Office.

Especially when both sides were fighting to be brushed off, it made them feel a little warm from the bottom of their hearts, and even a little proud of being less than inadequate and more than inferior.

Liu Tai also heard about Xi Shenjun and Gou Chun's robbing people. He was happy to see the success, and it was considered that the people were making the best use of their talents.

Of course, because this year's event was held in a hurry, the rules and regulations are not perfect, but they will eventually become more and more perfect in the future.

After all, the population of the entire Hebei area now exceeds 10 million, but it is only at the level of 10 million, so coming to Yecheng for a unified examination can still support it. In the future, there will be more and more aristocratic families in the jurisdiction, and many people are even afraid that If you just come here to try your luck, the imperial examination system that allows local governments to complete preliminary screening will inevitably be introduced.

As for now, naturally let’s take a look at their imperial examination first.

After deliberation, these scholars finally entered the final palace examination, which was when Liu Tai decided the ranking. At this moment, they came to the main hall tremblingly, although they did not dare to look around.

But he also quietly looked around, as if he wanted to know what the people in power looked like now.

It's just that the palace etiquette they were taught in advance made them dare not raise their heads.

Liu Tai looked at the way these people lowered their heads and looked at the soles of their feet, and somewhat understood that keeping the distance between the ruler and his ministers would make the ministers feel mysterious and fearful, and thus become more awe-inspiring.

But it was not necessary for Liu Tai, because most rulers in ancient times did not win the world on their own, so they needed to increase their mystery to increase their authority.

But as for me, I have conquered the world by myself, I may be a legend, and I won’t care about the flood after I die.

So Liu Tai said slowly, "Everyone, raise your heads and look at Gu!"

When Yi Zhongzhi heard Liu Tai's words, he was a little stunned and couldn't help but raise his head and look at Liu Tai.

Liu Tai said at this time, "Everyone, please remember this feeling. Although you have not yet been awarded a decorated official position, you will already be an official of my Han Dynasty after passing the three examinations, and you will become the pillars of my Han Dynasty in the future.

You should be like pines and cypresses, standing tall in the cold and heat, and there is no need to bow your head even in the face of loneliness. This world is the world of lonely people, the world of the Han people, and the world of the common people.

And you are the smartest people among the Han people. Sooner or later you will rule the world together with Gu. "

After hearing the words, these leaders raised their heads and chests one after another, and their eyes seemed to turn red when they looked at Liu Tai.

Liu Tai continued: "The title of this imperial examination is Yongji Canal. Please do your best to write a policy review!"

After Liu Tai finished speaking, he waved his hand and began to sit upright. Xi Jian came out and said:

"Everyone, please take your seats. The topic of this palace examination is Yongji Canal. Three hundred and sixty examination papers will be handed over to the cabinet officials for review.

The last two hundred and forty are from the same Jinshi background, the middle hundred are from Jinshi origins, and the fifteenth are Jinshi and pass the rank.

In the end, there will be one No. 1 pick, two No. 2 picks, and two No. 1 picks.

The exam begins now, and the papers will be collected in two hours. "

After hearing this, everyone began to take the exam seriously. Everyone knew about Yongji Canal. After all, no matter how many people come from the south to the north, they must pass through the Yongji Canal, which is currently under construction.

Although the entire section of the Yongji Canal is under construction, it is mainly to connect the canals and rivers that have been opened before, so many sections are all navigable.

However, the scholars at this time couldn't help but scratch their heads, because they had gone through the mathematics of "Nine Chapters", crossed over the history of "Han Shu", and wrote down their insights on policy, and what finally appeared in front of them was actually civil Engineering.

For many scholars, if they only talk about Yongji Canal in general, then they can write something at least.

But now they are asked to write about Yongji Canal specifically. Even if the scholars know what it is, they still have no idea where to start.

The cabinet members present looked at each other, and they knew more or less what Liu Tai was thinking.

Among this group of people, those who have no fingers in the spring water and can't write a reason at all will be placed at the end. Those who can write about the role of Yongji Canal can be placed as Jinshi origins. As for those who can improve their horizons, they can even write about Liu Thai strategic entry candidate.

Liu Tai took this opportunity to get up calmly and began to look at the people who came to take the exam.

Liu Tai's first target was Zhang Heyi. There was no way that he only knew this one among so many people.

This guy was originally a military historian, but he didn't expect to be able to sneak into the final palace examination. Liu Tai looked at Zhang Heyi's article and knew from the beginning that this guy didn't have enough vision and structure. He even changed the beginning of the article. There is not much new idea, I am afraid they are the worst among so many people here.

But you are from a military history background, and I only know you, so having you from a Jinshi background can give some hope to the military history lineage.

Comparing these people, Liu Tai looked at Guo Ao, who ranked first in mathematics and had a profound family background, Xun Zhi, who ranked first in "Hanshu", and Zheng Lue, who ranked first in Lunce After looking at it, I found that Zheng Lue's writing was the most pragmatic.

It seems that no matter what topic Zheng Lue writes about, he always talks about farming. When it comes to farming, he mentions farming, and then he starts writing a comprehensive farming plan.

It seems that what he wants to write is not some strategy, but a comprehensive farming plan with Yongji Canal as the core and comprehensive development of the surrounding water systems!

To be honest, Liu Tai might not be able to see any problems after looking at it.

But Liu Tai knew very well that the concept of just opening the Yongji Canal as a shipping channel was completely different from opening the Yongji Canal as a waterway, and then on this basis, he wanted to turn the surrounding areas of the Yongji Canal into thousands of miles of farmland.

Because farmland and canals compete for water resources, if too much water is used for farmland, it will easily cause the canal to dry up, and then the entire canal shipping will stop. The consequences are very serious.

But if, as Zheng Lue said, the canals opened by the canals could be used to irrigate the surrounding agriculture, it would be quite attractive to Liu Tai.

Liu Tai thought he could leave this guy to Cao Yi. Is he just bragging, or is he really capable? If he gives it to Cao Yi, he should be able to try it out.

If possible, I can let him complete his subsequent plans when the main trunk road of Yongji Canal is built.

Of course, this is because Liu Tai does not pursue gorgeous rhetoric or beautiful articles. Even if someone here writes an article that is comparable to "Luo Shen Fu", for Liu Tai, it is probably because wild boars cannot eat fine chaff and cannot taste fine articles.

However, it doesn't matter if Liu Tai doesn't have good taste. Xi Jian and others can show good taste. Their literary quality is more than a world away from Liu Tai, so they will put the best articles in Liu Tai's hands.

And soon the time passed little by little, and everyone stopped writing one after another. After two hours, the waiters began to go up to collect everyone's test papers, and then looked at the words on the test papers one by one. Policy theory!

Liu Tai looked at the people who were still sitting in front of him honestly after the exam, and said:

"Next is the time for marking. If anyone wants to go out, you can tell the chamberlain, who will lead you there for your convenience.

Of course, if anyone feels stuffy indoors, they can also go outside to enjoy the snow scenery and relax. When the ranking is confirmed, everyone will naturally be called.

In addition, if you feel hungry, you can call the servant to serve you cakes. After all, there is no reason to send hungry soldiers. "

Hearing Liu Tai's slightly relaxed words, the students present breathed a sigh of relief, but Zhang Heyi was the first to show respect.

After all, this was not the first time he had met Liu Tai. He knew that Liu Tai had a straight-talking character. As long as he acted under the rules set by Liu Tai, Liu Tai would be quite easy to talk to and not as rigid as other scholars.

He felt as if he had returned to his own home, and there was nothing to be cautious about. He decisively called the waiter and went out.

And if someone takes the lead in this kind of thing, people will naturally follow in twos and threes. The most important thing is that everyone seriously held in their urine for more than two hours. After finishing the exam, they relaxed and naturally burst into tears. Immediate urge to urinate.

So everyone followed the chambermaid out one after another, and talked in detail with their friends along the way.

Because even they dare not say anything when faced with the majestic and serious scene in front of them, but when they come out to relax at this moment, they will naturally seize the time and take some time to talk with their friends about how good their writing is.

They cheered each other up, and lamented to each other that their writing was not good at that time. Basically, except for the first place in the first three rounds, who was guaranteed to be promoted to the top twenty, the others were more or less a little uneasy in their hearts. of.

However, as they returned after going out to relieve themselves, everyone finally calmed down and returned to their seats to wait for the cabinet ministers to review their plans, wait for them to give answers and then arrange the nouns!

In about half an hour, these ministers classified the top twenty articles and sent them to Liu Tai.

Liu Tai looked at the other classified copies and said:

"God has the virtue of good life, and the number of the Great Evolution is fifty, and the number is definitely forty-nine, but there is also one that escapes.

In addition to the first twenty, I will draw five more people from the test papers who were born with the same Jinshi background. Four of them will be promoted to Jinshi. The best person among the five will be a Jinshi! "

"Your Majesty, is this unfair to the top-ranked candidates?" Xi Jian couldn't help but wonder after hearing Liu Tai's words.

Liu Tai nodded, and then said, "The three hundred and sixty people here are the most talented and learned people in the world. There is still a long time. It would be unfair to judge the outcome only based on the written test. So if there is a treasure in the world, it will be unfair." Luck will naturally be chosen by me.”

When Liu Tai mentioned luck, everyone stopped talking. Who doesn't believe in this thing in this era? This is the era when metaphysics is most prosperous.

For Liu Tai, this was the only way to promote Zhang Heyi, a guy with a background in military history, to a Jinshi status, and then choose a comfortable name, and decisively throw this guy named Wangdu from Beihai into a Jinshi status!

With this guy as a shield, who would doubt that he made dumplings just for Zhang Heyi's jealousy?

Ha ha!

(End of this chapter)